State of the Hobby - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

2 Jul 1999

On Fri, 2 Jul 1999 21:50:16 +0100 (BST) ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony
Duell) writes:
...
 Please remember that this list is international. And
that not all of 
us have well payed jobs, or even jobs at all. I couldn't consider 
spending twice my _annual_ income on an Altair. Heck, I have to stop 
and think before I spend my weekly income on common 8-bit micro. 
It won't belong before this condition will exist in the States as well.

...
 > > IN the hobby I knew, money was only a very
small part of the 
> > equation. Used to be, all I needed was a few dollars, some basic 
> > tools, and a little luck.  Now I need *deep* pockets, too.  I'm 
> > upset that the 'elite' is putting my favorite passtime out of my
reach.
...

I think what a lot of us are saying is : 

At one time classic computers were cheap. Anyone could buy them _and_ 
they weren't worth buying as an 'investment'. The only reason to buy 
them was because you were seriously interested in the machines. 
Thank You.  I *knew* there had to someone out there who actually
understood my point.  It dosen't surprise me it was someone outside
the US.

...
   Its not the
"elite" that have something about cornering the computer 
 collectable field - it happens to ALL collectable fields. I have 
 seen it happen in two related instances.  
As I have said before, Valve radio/audio was ruined for me when I 
could no longer get an old set for a few _pence_ at a jumble sale. 
The same fate awaits many of us here in the Classic Computing 
community.  Since many of you seem convinced that there is nothing
that can be done, I shall publicly discuss this issue no further.

Jeff

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